Avalanche Forecast

On Thursday, a skier triggered a small, thin wind slab at an entrance to a northwest-facing slope.

On Friday afternoon, loose, dry avalanches and pinwheeling were observed in steep rocky terrain in the sun. As the sun pokes out and temperatures warm, loose wet avalanches may become possible.

Expect to find wind-pressed surfaces, with deeper and more reactive pockets around ridgelines at upper elevations; and a widespread crust in wind-scoured areas and lower elevations. On steep sunny slopes and lower elevations, the surface crust may soften with warming during the day, or the snowpack may become isothermal.

A layer of weak, faceted crystals overlying a crust is buried 30-60 cm in the east of the region and 50-100 cm in the west. Triggering this layer has become unlikely, except in the case of shallow snowpack spots or very large loads like cornice falls.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear with increasing cloud. West ridgetop wind 20 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature low -10 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Monday

Flurries, up to 10 cm. Southwest ridgetop wind 30 to 60 km/h. Treeline temperature high +1 °C. Freezing level near 1000 m.

Tuesday

Snow and flurries, 5 to 10 cm. Southwest ridgetop wind gusting to 70 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and cloud. Light and variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.